Useful links
Welcome to the green grants machine
where you can get information on all the latest funding schemes to enable your company to become more environmentally friendly.
Search our free green funding database to find grants, loans and awards available to help your business go green and save on energy bills.
GRANTnet, a straightforward free-to-use service from GRANTfinder, can help small businesses like yours to identify suitable funding
Information on over 4,000 grants and other incentives is rapidly identified by answering a few simple questions about the activity you wish to undertake and the type of funding required. There are several steps and, at each step, a Help screen assists you in completing the required information.
The system is updated regularly to ensure access to the very latest funding information and includes funds from Europe, the UK Government and local authorities. GRANTnet also provides a link to experts from Business Links in England, Scottish Enterprise, Invest Northern Ireland, Business Eye Wales and the European Information Centres (EICs) in the UK - so once you have identified a grant, you can get advice on submitting an application.
New ETL criteria will come into force on 11 August 2008 - welcome to the ECA Energy scheme
The Enhanced Capital Allowance (ECA) scheme is a key part of the Government’s programme to manage climate change. It provides businesses with enhanced tax relief for investments in equipment that meets published energy-saving criteria.
This website covers equipment that qualifies for the allowance and provides background information about the scheme and its benefits, lists the eligible products and gives the performance criteria for each technology. It also explains how to claim ECAs.
English Heritage and E.ON working together to tackle climate change
Welcome to Climate Change and Your Home an interactive web portal designed specifically to help those who own or manage houses built of traditional construction understand more about the potential impacts of climate change and ways to save energy.
English Heritage and E.ON share an interest in caring for and protecting the environment for future generations. We are collaborating to inform, explore and deliver initiatives that will make a tangible contribution to reducing the impact of climate change on the communities in which we operate.
Welcome to Savenergy
If you live in the West Midlands area, you could get a free Energy Efficiency Report by completing our free online energy check.
To find out more about saving energy at home, saving energy in business, energy and education, housing associations, renewable energy, and more...
BBC news - How nuclear power works
Should the UK consider a new generation of reactors? Use this guide to explore the issues: nuclear fission, waste, cost and energy alternatives. Find out more about the UK's plans for nuclear power.
Communicating climate change
Climate change is one of the most urgent issues of our time. The first step towards tackling the problem is to make sure everyone understands exactly what the challenge is and what we all need to do to make a difference.
Manage Energy – Kids corner – sustainable energy animation
An interactive fun communication tool for children, showing energy use through transportation, solar panels, wind turbines etc.
Stern review on the economics of climate change
Low Carbon Building Programme
Launched on 1 April 2006, phase one of the BERRs low carbon buildings programme will run over three years and replaces the previous DTI Clear Skies and Solar PV grant programmes. Open to householders, public, not for profit and commercial organisations across the UK (except the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man). The programme will demonstrate how energy efficiency and microgeneration can work hand-in-hand to create low carbon buildings.
Part of the BERR’s microgeneration strategy, phase one of the low carbon buildings programme will fund a range of microgeneration technologies including:
- Solar photovoltaics
- Wind turbines
- Small hydro
- Solar thermal hot water
- Ground source heat pumps
- Bio-energy
- Renewable CHP
- MicroCHP (combined heat and power)
- Fuel cells
West Midlands Sustainability Check List
What is the Checklist?
The Checklist is an easy-to-use online tool developed by West Midlands Regional Assembly, Advantage West Midlands with the help of the Building Research Establishment, and support of the Department of Local Communities and Local Government, WWF, West Midlands Building Technology Cluster, West Midlands Regional Planning Officers Group, and Sustainability West Midlands.
It identifies a range of different economic, social and environmental sustainability issues covered in National Guidance and the West Midlands Regional Spatial Strategy. It enables users to assess to what extent a development site proposal will deliver on the different aspects of sustainability.
The Checklist covers regionally specific sustainability and planning issues, emphasising those of higher priority. It can also be adapted to reflect locally significant concerns.
Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The UK is acting now to adapt to climate change and to reduce the risk by reducing our contribution to the causes. These pages explain what climate change means for the UK and what Defra is doing about it.
Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR)
BERR has a major interest as a number of policies and measures affect the energy sector and business.
Along with Defra and the Department for Transport, BERR shares a Public Service Agreement target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in line with our Kyoto commitment and domestic goal.
Sustainable cities
The climate crisis is largely a crisis of design and planning. This website brings together major cities and business to rethink the way our cities are designed and used. It is part of the sustainable cities project, led by CABE, the government’s advisor on architecture, urban design and public space.
Sustainable Energy Academy
The Sustainable Energy Academy promotes education and action to reduce the carbon footprint of buildings and communities. We network with people and organisations at local level to achieve national impact.
SEA, previously ecsc, is a UK registered charity, founded in 1982, to advance the knowledge and application of energy efficiency and renewable energy.
Our current campaign Old Home Superhome promotes exemplar energy efficient existing homes across the country, helping to make them accessible so that other homeowners can learn and be inspired to transform their own houses.
About Green Futures
Green Futures was founded in 1996 by Forum for the Future director Jonathon Porritt, who continues to chair our Advisory Board.
We aim to lead the debate on how to achieve a sustainable future – one that’s both practical and attractive: a future we’ll want to live in.
We do so by pulling together all the latest news, opinion and debate, brought alive with compelling stories and cutting edge examples.
We passionately believe that you can write about sustainable development in a way which is entertaining and engaging – as opposed to boring, preachy or specialist! We choose our writers with care to make sure they do just that…
Green futures festivals
Climate change affects everybody!
We have links to some quality web sites and aim to educate and involve everybody we can in understanding the problems and becoming committed to being part of the solution.
Energy Saving Trust
Learn more about your impact on climate change, surprising statistics, resources available and much more.
Carbon Trust
The Carbon Trust supports the development of low carbon technologies, and helps business and the public sector cut carbon emissions.
Centre for alternative technology
CAT's free information service offers advice and information on all aspects of sustainable living. Every week we answer hundreds of enquiries by mail, phone and email. We can help you choose what measures are the most useful for you to take to reduce your environmental impact and lower your carbon footprint (and save money too!).
Browse our information sheets on eco-building and renovation, energy efficiency, low-impact Living, renewable energy, transport and travel and water and sanitation . These give advice on popular topics, from solar panels to composting toilets.
Contact us
Carol Edmondson
Regeneration Officer
Regeneration – Delivery and Development
Walsall Council
Darwall Street
Walsall
WS1 1TP
Telephone 01922 652864
Email edmondsonc@walsall.gov.uk